Is Steve Fossett still alive????

[gcarter]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2462912/Adventurer-Steve-Fossett-%27may-have-faked-his-own-death%27.html


By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 1:02AM BST 28 Jul 2008

Steve Fossett's disappearence last September sparked the biggest search in American history. Fossett, a friend of Virgin boss Richard Branson, and the first man to fly non-stop round the earth in a hot air balloon, went missing last September when his final flight in a light plane over the Nevada desert went missing.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Cynthia Ryan of the US Civil Air Patrol has said Fossett, whose body or plane was never found, could still be alive.

She said: "I've been doing this search and rescue for 14 years. Fossett should have been found.

"It's not like we didn't have our eyes open. We found six other planes while we were looking for him. We're pretty good at what we do."

Fossett's disappearance sparked the biggest search in American history, with the Civil Air Patrol's Black Hawks, fitted with infra-red technology, joined by over 30 private planes and internet experts scanning the Nevada desert looking for clues.

Lt Col Ryan believes Fossett may have faked his own death due to personal problems or fears about his business dealings.

There are also a number of anomalies that question whether Fossett's plane ever crashed.

Only one witness, a pilot at hotel magnate Barron Hilton's flying ranch near Reno, claims to have seen him take off that day.

That witness claims Fossett asked him to prepare the plane for take off, even though he had never allowed anyone else to do this before.

Fossett also apparently claimed he was going to scout for locations for a land speed record attempt, but he supposedly took off with no emergency equipment.

The choice of plane was also a baffling one - a Bellanca Citabria Super Decathlon, which, according to risk assessor Robert Davis said was constructed from a steel and wood frame, but actually covered in fabric, making it easy to dismantle.

Davis conducted an eight-month investigation for insurers Lloyd's of London, said to face a £25 million payout on Fossett's death.

He said: "What I've strived to find out is what happened to this man in the run-up to his disappearance, why did he disappear?

"I spoke to reporters who were on the scene, people who were helping out with the search efforts, anyone whom I thought could shed some light on this.

"I discovered that there is absolutely no proof that Steve Fossett is actually dead. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, I'm a man who deals in facts, and I don't really care if he is alive or dead, it make no difference to me.

"What I am interested in is the truth - and a proper criminal investigation of this man's disappearance was never undertaken by law enforcement or officials in the state of Nevada."

[VetteLT193]

seems to me that if they were so good at their jobs they wouldn't have found 6 other planes while searching for this one. :doh:

Usually the most logical answer is the correct one, I usually don't buy into conspiracy theories, but you never know...

[zelatore]

I think maybe all the sanding dust is going to George's brain. Or maybe he thinks the board is just getting a little boring so he's trying to stir up some fun.

:wink:

[gcarter]

seems to me that if they were so good at their jobs they wouldn't have found 6 other planes while searching for this one. :doh:
Usually the most logical answer is the correct one, I usually don't buy into conspiracy theories, but you never know...
I think maybe it's about 25 MILLION pounds Sterling......

[gcarter]

I think maybe all the sanding dust is going to George's brain. Or maybe he thinks the board is just getting a little boring so he's trying to stir up some fun.
:wink:
Actually I am taking the day off....my right shoulder really hurts!:smash:

[BUIZILLA]

Steve went to lunch with Elvis...

[VetteLT193]

I think maybe it's about 25 MILLION pounds Sterling......

I hear you but I was under the impression that 25 mil to him was a drop in the bucket (i.e., not worth faking death over)? I don't know much about his life and finances so I could be totally off base... plus that has to be 50 (or so) million US... so the conspiracy theory is growing on me. :popcorn:

[BUIZILLA]

one thing I thought odd was that Steve's wife has remained very emotionless through out this episode... very straight faced.... almost like she's on to something... maybe Steve is going to pop up in the left seat of Branson's latest alien aircraft and surprise us all...

[DonziJon]

Is that anywhere near Area 51? :nilly:

Every little plane I ever flew had an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) installed which would "Go Off" on impact. The ones in use today utilize satalites and GPS and are programmed with "plane/owner specific" information that is also uplinked.

The EPIRBS from decades ago which I had on my boat for use offshore used radio signals which "Hopefully" would be picked up by other aircraft...Airliner, etc.

No other "Emergency" equipment is required to be carried on board a private plane. Some pilots regularly operating over water, might carry an avaition (light weight) liferaft. Planes carrying passengers for hire have different requirements.

No "Flight Plan" is required for VFR (visual) flight, however, the pilot might choose to use "Flight Following" which allows Air Traffic Control to "Keep an Eye" on you when flying in remote areas, notifying you of other plane traffic etc in your area ..subject to local availability. John

BTW: The "Citabria" is a very nice aerobatic tailwheel airplane used for aerobatic training.

[BUIZILLA]

Teflon Don was behind the wheel...

escorted by Fats Domino

[gcarter]

Here's a sort of related incident where a guy in England faked his death and disappeared for six years before re-appearing, or being found...he's now in prison.
People do try this stuff.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2463085/Canoe-couple-John-and-Anne-Darwin%27s-sons-speak-of-anger-and-betrayal-at-parents.html

[zelatore]

It's OK George, water softener sales will pick up soon! It doesn't have to come to this!

[gcarter]

Here's a follow up from the Las Vegas Sun;
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/02/has-fossett-flown-coop/
Ya really need to look at the article to see the cartoon.

[zelatore]

Bigfoot...Elvis....Earhart...

They totally missed it on that one. It just stands to reason that if he bailed out he wouldn't be hanging with those guys; instead he'd be holed up with D.B. Cooper!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OEVQT34Y34

(BTW, the name of my Carver, 'Seven Dollar Shoes', is taken from one of Snider's songs)

[Last Real Texan]

Still alive,as all of you know I have inside sources.....


Tex

[Morgan's Cloud]

According to today's press a hitchhiker has found personal effects including $1500 in cash reportedly belonging to Fossett in the Mammoth Lakes region of the Sierra Nevada.

I hope this mystery is solved soon .....

[DonziJon]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/10/02/fossett-search.html

[Conquistador_del_mar]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/10/02/fossett-search.html

Until his body is found, I suppose it will still remain a possibility that he staged the crash for whatever reasons that I personally can not see. It should be known fairly soon. Bill

[Mr X]

Still alive,as all of you know I have inside sources.....
Tex
Do tell.....
So who's remains did they find in the wreckage?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/02/steve.fossett.search/index.html

[The Hedgehog]

Do tell.....
So who's remains did they find in the wreckage?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/02/steve.fossett.search/index.html

Elvis still contacts him for one:outtahere:

[ky-donzi]

"""Elvis still contacts him for one"""

I really think I saw Elvis the other day at the 7-11 he was getting a bucket of chicken and a gallon of anti-freeze:yes:

[HIGH LIFE]

This situation reminds me of Robert Maxwell Head of a printing empire in England. He was on his yacht on a cruise, supposingly fell averboard, never to be seen again. Shortly afterward his two sons were arrested and now in prison,for business practices. I feel the father knew the chit was going to hit the fan and got out of Dodge. HIGH LIFE

[Last Tango]

Well, once the scientist-types confirm his DNA was the same as the remains found, I am willing to say he is dead. The last ones to enjoy his wealth were the coyotes and wolves who dragged away what they could to eat elsewhere.
Small planes crash. Have for a long time. Old men flying small planes crash more often. As much as it would be fun to make up some dumb sh*t about conspiracies and such, I think the guy crashed and that was that.

P.S. I did read about that Elvis sighting. It was on the front page of the National Enquirer, and there were several other references to it on the internet, so it must be true.

[RedDog]

Have you ever read Atlas Shrugged?

Maybe he just gave up on society and the bureaucracy of the world...

[Last Tango]

From Wikipedia:
"Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. It was Rand's last work of fiction before concentrating her writings exclusively on philosophy, politics and cultural criticism. At over one thousand pages in length, she considered it her magnum opus.[1] Also, at approximately 645,000 words, Atlas Shrugged is one of the longest novels ever written in any European language. The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism.[2][3]"


Works of fiction are just like the National Enquirer.

[DonziJon]

Here's a link to the crash site via Google Earth. Click the various links on the page for more Text.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/10/google-earth.html John

[The Hedgehog]

"""Elvis still contacts him for one"""

I really think I saw Elvis the other day at the 7-11 he was getting a bucket of chicken and a gallon of anti-freeze:yes:

He hangs out in Ky a pretty good bit. I was in London (Ky not England) last week. I think I saw him.

I know that I saw him last weekend in Tn.:yes:

[Air 22]

Well, once the scientist-types confirm his DNA was the same as the remains found, I am willing to say he is dead. The last ones to enjoy his wealth were the coyotes and wolves who dragged away what they could to eat elsewhere.
Small planes crash. Have for a long time. Old men flying small planes crash more often. As much as it would be fun to make up some dumb sh*t about conspiracies and such, I think the guy crashed and that was that.
P.S. I did read about that Elvis sighting. It was on the front page of the National Enquirer, and there were several other references to it on the internet, so it must be true.


Hey Mark...u might consider your comments and think twice about spewing bs about small planes, crashes and old pilots. As a professional pilot and aviator for 17 yrs your comments are arrogant to say the least. Fossett was only 63 and was an accomplished aviator. He was type rated and owned the worlds fastest civilan jet the Ciation X CE-750...The same jet I fly @ Netjets. I have a degree in aircraft accident investigation and unless u work for the NTSB and have inside info(which u don't and they don't comment until the investigation is over)..your statements are false...show some respect and keep to the facts!

[The Hedgehog]

Hey Mark...u might consider your comments and think twice about spewing bs about small planes, crashes and old pilots. As a professional pilot and aviator for 17 yrs your comments are arrogant to say the least. Fossett was only 63 and was an accomplished aviator. He was type rated and owned the worlds fastest civilan jet the Ciation X CE-750...The same jet I fly @ Netjets. I have a degree in aircraft accident investigation and unless u work for the NTSB and have inside info(which u don't and they don't comment until the investigation is over)..your statements are false...show some respect and keep to the facts!

No, I doubt it had anything to do with being old or careless. My father is 65 and can school me 10x over any time I fly with him. He has a whole myriad of ratings. I think he still has his low altitude acro waiver. He has over 150 combat missions as a Wild Weasel, was an A-4 demo pilot and has a ton of time in the F-4. He will laugh and tell you what you know you are getting over the hill when your planes are exhibited on stands at base entrances. Even with all that experience he will pull the plug the second he does not like something. Although aviation is relatively safe, it is not forgiving and bad things happen to good pilots.

If something happened to my father in a plane, I doubt it would have anything to do with age or carelessness. I am sure I would hear that sort of speculation and it would piss me off.

[Air 22]

"If something happened to my father in a plane, I doubt it would have anything to do with age or carelessness. I am sure I would hear that sort of speculation and it would piss me off. "

Thanks Hedge...:):wink:

[BUIZILLA]

one of my brothers lives in J-Hole

he not only fly's, he builds his own experimental aircraft, and fly's them out of his front yard

he told me long ago the only fear he has in those mountain's is the thermals and drafts through the passes... he said they are wicked, unforgiving, and will fly you right into the ground in a couple seconds, and there's nothing you can do about it..

[gcarter]

I'll have to go with the old guys too. My dad started flying in about 1937. His first plane was an Aeronca C3, or a "Flying Bathtub". During WW-II, he was a civilian flight instructor. Over the years he collected more and more ratings, including sea planes. When he was in his 60's, he could no longer pass his physical. At that time he had about 19,000 hours logged.
He passed away about four years ago just ten days short of his 90th birthday.

[Air 22]

one of my brothers lives in J-Hole
he not only fly's, he builds his own experimental aircraft, and fly's them out of his front yard
he told me long ago the only fear he has in those mountain's is the thermals and drafts through the passes... he said they are wicked, unforgiving, and will fly you right into the ground in a couple seconds, and there's nothing you can do about it..


Jim I spent 4 years teaching Mountain flying in Colorado Springs. Mt flying cannot be taken lightly...The weather is ever changing and unforgiving...close attention to pressure gradients and jetstream activity are big factors...heat and density altitude robb serious HP from light piston powered aircraft...not knowing how to ride thermals where, when and how to adjust will kill u in any plane...like anything else..if u prepare, plan and respect mother nature Mt Flying is beautiful...pushing it or taking risks is not wise...Your brother must love it in J-Hole what a beautiful place!:yes::wink: